Jennifer R. Byrne

James Corrigan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. James, who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Deborah C.M. Henry is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Deborah C.M., who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Deborah C.M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kathleen W. Bilderback is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Trusts and Estates. Kathleen W., who practices law in Clayton, Missouri, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kathleen W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Penney Rector is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Education Law. Penney, who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Penney is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jim Layton joined the firm in 2017 after serving more than 22 years in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office—nearly all of those as the State’s principal civil appellate lawyer, Solicitor General. Jim practices in both appellate and trial courts, particularly in matters involving complex legal questions, including those arising under the U.S. and Missouri constitutions, Missouri school funding and other education statutes, discrimination laws, and Missouri tax laws. He repr...

Attorney Jo Anna Pollock is a Partner at Simmons Hanly Conroy in the Complex Litigation Department, where she focuses on public nuisance, class actions, sex abuse and environmental litigation. She devotes her practice to representing people, county governments and businesses that have been harmed through the wrongdoing of others. Jo Anna works on cases nationwide through all stages of the litigation process. She has spent the last 20 years in trial and appellate courts across the country secu...

Stephen R. Woodley is a native of St. Louis who completed his undergraduate degree at Washington University in 1978. In 1982, Mr. Woodley received his DMD degree, also from Washington University, and in 1986 he graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law. In 1982, after completing his DMD degree, Mr. Woodley joined the then Gray & Ritter firm as a full-time law clerk, assisting primarily in the development of professional negligence cases. After graduation from law school in 1...

Susan M. Dimond is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Insurance Law. Susan M., who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Susan M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James C. Hetlage is an experienced employment attorney, litigator, and municipal attorney. He represents government and private-sector employers before state and federal administrative agencies, trial courts and appellate courts. Mr. Hetlage is experienced in resolving employment discrimination claims and other labor and employment disputes in court and through mediation and arbitration. He has addressed the impact of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter for employers, and has...

Patrick J. Hagerty is a native of St. Louis. He completed his undergraduate studies at Quincy College in 1981. He received his law degree in 1985 from Saint Louis University School of Law, and served as an editor of the Saint Louis University Law Journal. Mr. Hagerty is licensed to practice in Missouri and Illinois, and in federal district courts and courts of appeal in Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Arkansas and the Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Circuits. He serves on the Board of Governors of th...